Alex Dowsett among 11 names on Movistar's Giro d'Italia shortlist

Alex Dowsett is among the 11 riders named in Movistar's shortlist for the Giro d'Italia, and with time trials over the 21 stages the 27-year-old Brit should be confident of a place in the final nine.

One of Dowsett's biggest wins to date came at the 2013 Giro, when he won the the 43km time trial between Gabicce Mare and Saltara ahead of the likes of Sir Bradley Wiggins and Vincenzo Nibali.

Like in 2013, the 2016 Giro features a long rolling time trial on stage nine, which should suit Dowsett's skillset, and with Movistar's other main time triallists Adriano Malori and Jonathan Castroviejo out with injury Dowsett could get the nod.

Movistar's main aim in the race, though, will be to support Alejandro Valverde to victory in his first Giro d'Italia. The final squad will be named after the Tour de Romandie, which ends on May 1.

Movistar shortlist for Giro d'Italia

Alejandro Valverde, Alex Dowsett, Andrey Amador, Giovanni Visconti, Jasha Sutterlin, Rory Sutherland, Antonio Pedrero, Jose Joaquin Rojas, Jesus Herrada, Javi Moreno, Ruben Fernandez.